DOW: Best to leave those babies alone

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LAMARâ Southeast Colorado plays host to an extremely wide assortment of wildlife from antelope and cottontail rabbits to robins and finches. As spring and summer months pass, several of the region’s wildlife species give birth and raise offspring. Travis Black, area wildlife manager for the Colorado Department of Wildlife, said it is important for individuals to refrain from interfering with newborn and young wild animals unless the animal is clearly injured.

Young animalsare often seen alone in backyards, groves of trees and in ditches , but are rarely there as a result of being abandoned by the mother. Generally, the young are left as a matter of protection. Mothers often leave their young for several hours at a time as the mother goes to feed. This affords a degree of safety to the young animal as it may not be mobile enough at the time to elude predators. According to the DOW, a mother may return at least twice a day to feed her young until the newborn is able to travel with the mother.

According to the DOW, interference with young animals may endanger the animals’ chances of survival. Some species’ young are born virtually odorless. Elk calves and deer fawns are examples of being born with little or no scent. The lack of scent helps the calves and fawns to evade predators. Another defense mechanism employed by both species is to remain completely still when approached by predators.

A large number of animal species are highly sensitive to human scents. After young animals are handled by humans, many adult animals abandon their young as a result of the presence of human odors, greatly endangering the life of the young animal.

“Every year the DOW receives numerous calls from good Samaritans, who with the best of intentions, have ‘rescued’ a young animal that they believed to be abandoned or orphaned,” said Aimee Ryel, district wildlife manager for Loveland. “In almost every scenario, this is simply not the case, and these people don’t realize that they are in fact, endangering the lives of these animals by interfering with their natural adaptation.”

Black said the most common calls for the area this time of year is for Mississippi Kites. The bird’s young are prone to falling out of nests and trees said Black. The wildlife manager said it is generally best to leave the birds alone.

The local wildlife manager said the Lamar office also receives a sizable amount of calls concerning cottontail rabbits. He said people often see the young and become concerned for their safety.

The Lamar office of the DOW covers parts of eight eastern Colorado counties. The territory stretches over approximately 20,000 square miles said Black. He said the office receives three to five calls from concerned residents about potentially abandoned deer. “People stumble across a fawn laying there and call,” said Black. He added most calls about deer in the area are because the animals appear to be hurt, citing the high propensity for the animals to be struck by motorists as they cross area highways.

“We take calls on just about every species we have in southeastern Colorado,” said Black.

The Colorado Department of Wildlife encourages individuals to observe wildlife in its natural environment, but urges people to refrain from disturbing wild animals in their natural environment. Anyone concerned about the well being of a wild animal are encouraged to contact the local DOW office.

“It’s important to understand that not all newborn animals will survive,” said Kris Middledorf, Castle Rock district wildlife manager. “In the case of all wildlife, there is a natural mortality that occurs every year.”